FAAS

John L. Lipp is settling in to his new job as acting director at Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS). Lipp stepped in to replace Nancy Baglietto who resigned from her position as FAAS’ director on March 18 to take a position in Grass Valley (“Shelter’s Executive Director to Step Down,” March 16). Lipp resigned from FAAS’ board of directors and accepted the position as the organization’s acting director. He began working on Monday, March 27.

The executive director of the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS), Nancy S. Baglietto, announced on March 13 that she is leaving Alameda. She has resigned and accepted a position as the executive director at Hospitality House, an emergency homeless shelter in Grass Valley, Calif. Her last day at FAAS will be next Friday, March 24. She will begin work in Nevada City on Saturday, April 1.

Baglietto joined FAAS as executive director in February 2015. Her departure comes in the midst of negotiations with the city over the organization’s future funding.

A year ago this month, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) informed the City of Alameda that the public-private partnership to run the shelter was not financially sustainable.

We began serious discussions with the City Manager last April and submitted a proposal on Aug. 10, 2016. The City Council weighed in on this issue in October, directing staff to negotiate a new agreement with FAAS that would enable us to maintain the same high level of outcomes we have achieved over the last five years.

Above, 10-year-old Ian Love, left, joins his brother, Alex Love, 7, and friend Nolan Kim, 10, to show the money they earned at a joint birthday party for Ian and Nolan. Instead of asking for presents for themselves, Ian and Nolan requested cash donations from their friends and relatives. They raised $165, which they donated to the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS).

On Dec. 3 Alameda Support Foundation (ASF) held its yearly Christmas fundraiser and plant sale to benefit the animals at the Alameda Animal Shelter. ASF raised some $3,000 for Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS), whose contract renewal with the city will be considered in January.

Eight-year-old Jason Goodell, who comes to every ASF event, baked cupcakes and sold them for a dollar each, raised a total of $50, which he donated to the cause.

The Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) announced recently that the shelter is getting a new roof. The organization will keep the doors of the shelter open to potential adopters and pets in need during the installation, which begins Monday, Nov. 28, and is expected to take about four weeks. It will be noisy and parking will be reduced, but a new water-tight roof is essential to keep the animals warm and dry this winter.

The Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) is seeking to renegotiate its contract with the city of Alameda so it can better manage the Alameda Animal Shelter. FAAS sent out a press release to Alameda residents and city leaders stating the reasons it needs more funding for the shelter.

Senior pets are special. After all, a gray muzzle is something to celebrate! Sadly, far too many of our shelter animals are seniors who have lost their homes through no fault of their own. These pets deserve a forever home that will see them through their golden years. The next time you are looking to adopt a new four-legged family member, please consider the following:

1. Seniors are well-mannered. You rarely have to teach a senior how to use a litter box or dog door. They have excellent pet etiquette.

This past December, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) said goodbye and thank you to Nancy Evans who has served as FAAS’ board president since its founding in September 2009. Evans, a real estate professional with Harbor Bay Realty, co-founded FAAS with Lizette Weiss in an effort to raise private funding for the medical care of the animals living at the municipal shelter.

“There was a great need to support the medical care of the animals and volunteers, like myself, wanted to make a difference,” said Evans.

From all of us at FAAS, we wish you a joyous holiday season.
As the holidays approach, many pet parents are looking forward to including their furry family members in their festivities. From holiday decorating to family get-togethers, dogs and cats alike are often part of the joyful celebration. Taking a few tips into consideration will help to keep your pets safe and avoid uninvited consequences during special social gatherings.